Basketball logic dictates that the Celtics’ season should be dead by now, yet it still has a pulse. In fact, this battered, bruised, and gutted team is not only surviving but winning.

Around the league, observers say there’s actually little surprise that this depleted Hub crew is still a tough out, is still in the playoff race, cobbling together victories even without its floor general, its best rebounder, and its speedy reserve spark plug.

“If there’s one team, coach and players, that could possibly hold the ship together a little bit,” an Eastern Conference scout said, “it’s the Celtics.”